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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
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Fabrication and Characterization of a Conformal Skin-like Electronic System for Quantitative, Cutaneous Wound Management
Published on: September 2, 2015
An On-Skin Visually Monitorable Gel-Matrix Zinc-Ion Battery for Electrically Stimulated Wound Healing
Shuangxiu Cao1, Tingting Hu2, Xuemei Zhang3
1Department of Advanced Energy Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 5, 2026
Summary
This study developed a flexible aqueous zinc-ion battery (ZIB) for on-skin wound healing. The novel hydrogel electrolyte enables stable power for electrical stimulation, promoting faster healing.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) offer safety, low cost, and environmental benefits, making them suitable for biomedical applications.
- Wearable medical devices require flexible, biocompatible power sources with stable electrical output.
- Current energy storage solutions often lack the necessary flexibility and biocompatibility for advanced medical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and fabricate a stable, flexible gel-matrix aqueous ZIB for use as an on-skin power source.
- To investigate the potential of this ZIB for electrically stimulated wound healing.
- To evaluate the device's electrochemical performance, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a graded porous framework hydrogel electrolyte (GPF-HGE) via a solvent exchange process.
- Assembly of Zn|GPF-HGE|I2@AC full cells for electrochemical testing.
- Characterization of ionic conductivity, mechanical deformation tolerance, and long-term cycling stability.
- Evaluation of the device's performance in promoting wound healing via electrical stimulation.
Main Results:
- The GPF-HGE exhibited high ionic conductivity (17.19 mS cm⁻¹) and excellent mechanical properties (46 kPa, 205 J m⁻²).
- The assembled ZIB demonstrated superior long-term cycling stability with minimal capacity fading.
- The transparent, flexible ZIB successfully provided stable electrical stimulation, promoting wound healing through antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Conclusions:
- The developed flexible aqueous ZIB with a novel hydrogel electrolyte shows significant promise as a biomedical power source.
- This technology enables effective electrical stimulation for wound healing, highlighting the potential of ZIBs beyond traditional energy storage.
- The device offers a safe, stable, and biocompatible solution for advanced wearable medical applications.
